The ongoing saga at the San Francisco Centre has reached another grim milestone, as the mall's mortgage trust, DBJPM 2016-SFC Emporium, has filed lawsuits to evict its last few remaining tenants clinging to life in the once-bustling shopping center. According to the San Francisco Business Times, this legal move includes the eviction of the Executive Order Bar & Grill, a business located on Mission Street, whose owner, John Eric Sanchez, has expressed a desire to remain despite the dwindling foot traffic and a hefty monthly rent of $35,000.
The San Francisco Centre has seen a dramatic decline in business since the pandemic struck, with major retailers pulling out and foot traffic plummeting. The court filings, aiming to push out teetering businesses such as the Executive Order Bar & Lounge and Eyebrow Plus beauty chain, underscore the dire situation. These suits, originally filed on Friday, mark the beginning of a formal eviction process for those who did not leave voluntarily, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
A visit to the mall reveals an eerie backdrop of closed stores, with courtyards and walkways nearly deserted. While an outdated directory misleadingly lists absent businesses as operational, some current tenants are bracing for their final days. The SF Standard noted that at Eyebrow Plus, a single employee remained, dutifully awaiting any potential walk-ins, while closed Shoe Wiz contained visible boxes and merchandise behind locked doors, unnoticed by the sparse mall-goers.
